Family of treasure hunters says it found gold from 1700s Spanish shipwreck

A high karat gold Pyx which was believed to have been hand crafted in the late 1600's - early 1700's for transporting a Eucharist (communion wafer) is seen in an undated handout photo from 1715 Fleet-Queen's Jewels. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

MIAMI (AFP) - A family of treasure hunters in Florida say they found a golden pyx - a eucharist case - from a shipwrecked 16th century Spanish galleon, local media reported Tuesday.

The Schmitt family told Orlando's WKMG television they found the golden pyx, which they said was used to transport a eucharist, in a 1715 wreck off today's Fort Pierce.

The vessel was carrying treasure from Spain's colonies in Latin America back to Spain, when it sunk during a hurricane.

It is not the first time the family has made a rich find: just last year the residents of Sanford, Florida, found gold chains and gold coins worth some US$500,000 (S$621,180) in September 2013, the network said.